OSHKOSH, Wis.- UW-La Crosse defeated UW-Oshkosh softball, 5-0, after the completion of a previously suspended WIAC contest Friday (May 1) at Mary Beth Nienhaus Softball Complex.
The game was originally contested April 17 at UW-Rec Plex Field before lightning and rain forced a suspension of play. La Crosse entered the day with a 4-0 lead with one out in the top of the second inning.
Oshkosh (29-6-1, 10-2 WIAC), which has already clinched a share of the league regular season championship, suffered its first home loss of the year after play resumed at its primary facility. The Titans are now 14-1-1 at home on the season.
La Crosse (21-16, 5-7 WIAC) put an end to Oshkosh's 11-game winning streak and moved into a tie for fifth in the league standings as the Eagles control their own fate in determining whether they qualify for next week's six-team WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's). La Crosse also snapped a six-game losing streak in the series with Oshkosh.
Oshkosh can secure the outright conference title with one win during its regular season finale doubleheader at UW-Platteville (21-13, 7-4 WIAC) on Saturday (May 3). First pitch for the de facto league deciding twinbill is set for 1 p.m. Oshkosh, Platteville and UW-Eau Claire (28-10, 8-4 WIAC) remain in contention for the conference crown and WIAC Tournament hosting rights heading into the weekend.
The Eagles outhit Oshkosh, 9-4, during the long-awaited conclusion of the conference doubleheader and final regular season home game for the Titans.
La Crosse tacked on one run during Friday's resumption as the team's combined to go 8-for-40 (.200) on a chilly, dreary afternoon.
Kasey Brouchoud went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in to lead La Crosse. Brook Howard added a pair of hits and an RBI for the Eagles.
Oshkosh mustered four singles and two walks overall.
A total of seven pitchers made appearances across the game's two stints.
Kaeley Niemiec tossed the first three for the Eagles but did not factor in the decision. La Crosse relief pitcher Claire Springer (3-1) picked up the win after hurling two scoreless innings. Brynne Bieri notched her second save of the season with two shutout innings in relief of Springer.
Brianna Bougie (Oshkosh/Oshkosh West) (4-4) suffered the loss despite not pitching Friday. She ceded four runs across 1.1 innings pitched during the April 17 segment of the contest.
Grace Nardi (Marquette, Mich./Negaunee) and
Skyler Calmes (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) combined for 2.2 scoreless innings of relief out of the Titans bullpen. Calmes, whose season ERA remains at 0.00, allowed just one hit and struck out one while pitching the third and fourth innings.
Oshkosh had outscored opponents, 44-8, and recorded seven shutouts during its 11-game winning streak that began with a doubleheader sweep at UW-Whitewater on April 21.
